Austria’s Alessandro Hämmerle produced a carbon copy victory from four years ago to successfully defend his men’s snowboard cross title in the big final at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 on Thursday, 12 February.
Hämmerle again edged out arch-rival Eliot Grondin of Canada in a photo finish with just 0.03 seconds separating the two.
Jakob Dusek finished third for an Austrian 1-3, with Frenchman Aidan Chollet settling for fourth after leading for much of the race.
Wafer-thin margins often characterise the epic rivalry between Hämmerle and Grondin, with just 0.02 seconds deciding the winner in the Beijing 2022 final.
Four years ago, Hämmerle topped the podium in a photo finish with Grondin settling for the silver medal.
Grondin has emerged as the protagonist in snowboard cross in the past two seasons, winning the 2025 World Championships in Engadin and the 2024/25 Snowboard Cross Crystal Globe.
Hämmerle and Grondin were embroiled in an arm-wrestle throughout the quarter and semi-finals before renewing their rivalry in the big final, with the Austrian coming out on top again.
The big final had all the ingredients for an epic thriller with the gold and silver medallists from four years ago and rising star Chollet looking to challenge their hegemony.
Chollet came into the final as the fastest qualifier from the semis and stamped his authority from the get-go in the four-man battle.
Wearing the green leader’s bib, Chollet led over the first two-thirds of the race before Godin, riding on his shoulder, passed on his outside.
Godin was joined by Hämmerle and Dusek in a dramatic blanket finish, with Hämmerle finding the edge in the desperate lunge at the line.
Hämmerle revealed after the race that he would call time on his illustrious career after the 2027 world championships on home snow in Austria.
“There is so much pressure in snow cross once you win an Olympic gold. All the guys before me had two, and I am so glad I could step into their footsteps. I wish the next guy good luck winning Olympic gold,” Hämmerle said.
“It means a ton to me. I worked so hard, especially after the first Olympic medal, you strive for gold, and this was my No. 1 goal, and to fulfil it is just surreal.
“I don’t think I will be back (at the Olympics). Next, we have the home World Championships, and that will probably be my last race.”
